Bengal and Savannah Cat Comparison

Bengals and Savannahs are lliving works of art in perpetual motion. Both the Bengal and Savannah breeds are VERY energetic, curious, vocal, and can be very demanding of your attention. They are not content to sit and watch life pass them by. They want to be involved in everything you do. They are very intelligent and extremely tenacious. When they want something, they will find a way to get it. They will, on occasion, find great delight in 'decorating' your house with shredded rolls of toilet paper and paper towels. If a fly or insect is in your home you can rest assured a Bengal or Savannh will spend HOURS hunting it down by any means necessary. Along with this little feats of 'mischief' you will also find them to be extremely loyal and will quickly become your very best friend. They will be waiting to greet you at the door when you come home, will keep you company while going about your daily chores, and will curl up next to you when it's time for bed.

Many people a are often confused by the difference between Bengals and Savannahs. After all, they are very similar in personality and also look quite similar to the untrained eye. However, nothing could be further than the truth. Bengals and Savannahs are completely different lineages each originating from a very unique wild cat. We are often asked what are the differences between the Bengal Cat and the Savannah Cat.

Size

In choosing between the breeds, size is a consideration. The Savannah is typically the larger of the two breeds. A 15 to 20 lb. Savannahcat that is 18-20" tall is incredibly exotic looking but also eats more food and needs a larger litter box than a 10-15 pound Bengal Catthat is 10-12" tall. The Savannah cat loves to run and jump so a home with a larger space to exercise is a good idea. Earlier generationcats are much more active and tend to retain more of their wild instincts than SBT or cats that are 4 generations away from the wild cats.These things should be considered when decided on either a Savannah cat or a Bengal cat.

Personality

Bengals are high-energy cats, intelligent, curious, and very interactive with their humans. They want to be involved in everything their humans do and often follow their human around the house, step for step. They find great fun in chasing the broom, playing in the running tap water, dunking toys (and other objects) in their water bowl, and even playing chase. Bengals are known for greeting their family at the door, enjoying outings in the car, and cuddling with their humans or dogs. Bengals often enjoy walking on a leash to discover the great outdoors .While later generation ( SBT) Bengals are very outgoing, the early generations ( F1 and F2) have a tendency to be shy around strangers. Savannahs are tall, lean, creative cats. Savannahs will follow you from room to room and keep you on your toes with their amazing intelligence and amusing antics. Savannahs are very graceful jumpers and will keep you entertained with their leaping and pouncing abilities. Savannahs, even the F1 and F2, love to see and be seen. Savannahs have a tendency to get into mischief because of their uncanny intelligence and curiosity. Due to their high energy levels, Savannahs , in general, don't like to be held but prefer to sit next to you and enjoy just being near their humans. They are intensely loyal and devoted companions. Most Savannahs love to play in water, dropping their toys in the water dish and then fishing them out and even taking a shower or bath with their favorite human. They can be trained to walk on a leash and enjoy outdoor exploring.

Breed Development

The Bengal has been in development for quite a number of years. The only breeds in use in a Bengal breeding program is a Bengal and rarely, an Asian Leopard Cat. The Bengal Cat breed has consistency and its look has evolved into today's modern Bengal Cat. In some cases, today's Bengals are more striking than their wild ancestor, the Asian Leopard Cat. Their temperaments are friendly and predictable while retaining some of their unique wild traits such as fetching like dogs and their love of water. The Savannah is a new breed and various domestic breeds are still being used in its development. The early generation Savannah cats, however, still retain many of the physical characterics of their ancestor, the African Serval, and are very consistent in their wild looks. It is only very recently that fertile 5th generation males have become available to use in breeding programs. We are hoping that this will be the next step in getting some similarity between our various looks.